Streeters eye big benefits in F1 cross

Beautiful pair: Rod and Wendy Streeter, Rowen Beef, Lanton Park, with two of the three heifers they purchased from Oakland Brangus at the 2016 ABCA Rockhampton Brangus Sale, for use in their F1 production program.

Rod and Wendy Streeter, Rowen Beef, are combining the best traits of the Brangus and Wagyu breeds for the F1 cattle they’re focussing on at Lanton Park, situated between Marian and Mackay.

The Streeter’s switched their breeding goals after relocating to the 150 acre ex-cane property a year ago.

“We initially started out with Brangus before shifting over to Wagyu, so we know what each breed brings to the table and how we can benefit by producing the F1’s.”

He said Wagyus are “fantastic, and easy to handle”, but that the cows require a lot of care.

“The Brangus cows are hardier and more tick resistant, they also have bigger udders and better milk which is crucial for producing big healthy calves.”

Currently Rod and Wendy are running 60 Brangus (including 20 stud breeders) which will be AI'd to the best brangus genetics, and then run with Wagyu clean up bulls. The heifer progeny will be kept to increase their herd to 100 stud breeders by 2018.

Rod said they’re selling the commercial steers to several regular buyers when they hit 350kg, which are fed-on and sent to the export market.

“We’ve been getting good returns price wise for our steers which show us that we are on the right track with what we are producing.”

He said when selecting heifers during sale time they look for for medium to heavy boned breeders, with the main priority being that they have a placid nature.

“It’s only Wendy and myself carrying out the work at Lanton Park so we can’t afford to get hurt.”

Meeting their selection criteria perfectly are the three heifers they purchased from Oakland Brangus, Kalapa, at the 2016 ABCA Rockhampton Brangus Sale.

“Oaklands has done a fantastic job with their cows, the trio we bought last year have grown into beautiful cows, they’re spectacular to see.

“We have put them to a Wagyu bull for ease of calving for their first time and then they will go into an AI program once they have calves on the ground.”

Rod said they'll be returning to take a look at the heifers available at the Rockhampton sale this year.

He said they’re also very happy with the heifers they bought from Jett Brangus and Burenda Angus and Brangus, Dalby, at this year’s ABCA Roma Brangus Sale.

“They’re now both in-calf to Southern Deal Maker (IMP US), and are expected to give birth in January.

“The cows have EMA’s of 120mm and IMF’s of 8.2 per cent, and crossed with the Wagyu, we’re expecting to get top results and great marbling in the F1 calves.”

Rod said they’re constantly trying to improve the quality of their herd using the excellent genetics available.